That’s where it will end up anyway
EXECUTIVES AT China Merchants Bank created a genius program that automatically transfers husbands' earnings to their wives' accounts.
Every time a husband's account balance reads more than US$160 (HK$1,248), the extra cash automatically moves into his wife's account.
Not only will this system enable couples to save up for a house, the bank said, it should be good for relationships between men and women.
There was a huge outcry from young adults over this idea, including 170,000 complaints on Weibo, China's version of Twitter. The bank will probably have to withdraw the scheme.
Shame, because it's actually a brilliant idea. But they should have replaced "husband" and "wife" with other terms like "the sensible spouse" and "the other one".
The idea certainly makes sense to older Asians. Traditionally, in this region, women are in charge of family finances. Men are allowed to retain a small amount of their earnings to buy beer, arak, beer, newspapers, beer, cigarettes and, did I mention, beer?
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I AM WRITING this from my suite at the Shangri La hotel in Futian, Shenzhen. It’s huge. I could get all my readers in here with me. Next time we should plan this better. Good hotels are the traveler’s reward for all that queuing up in airports…
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PHOTOGRAPHERS from Kompas magazine snapped politicians puffing cigarettes under a "no- smoking" sign at the Makassar parliament office in Indonesia.
This is typical Asian leader philosophy: We make laws. You obey them.
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BOSSES AT McDonald's in Japan sent a stern memo to all staff, banning them from discussing their work with outsiders.
But they did offer one "recommended remark" that staff were allowed to use: "This chicken tatsuta is delicious!"
As a result, the Twittersphere and chat-rooms in Japan are now full of that phrase.
It's only a matter of time before someone tries to rob a McDonald's in Japan and this happens.
Robber: Hand over the money.
Staff: The chicken tatsuta is delicious!
Robber: This gun is loaded!
Staff: The chicken tatsuta is delicious!
Robber: What's the password or code to open the safe?
Staff: The chicken tatsuta is delicious!
Robber flees, screaming.
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A WACKO guy who stands up and flaps his arms while driving his motorbike at top speed around Dhaka, Bangladesh, has become a YouTube star. The world has gone crazy.
In the past, when South Asians acted deranged, we didn't make them stars - we called them sadhus (prophets) and worshipped them.
Wait. Maybe it's the same thing.
(Because I’m in China, I’m not allowed to give you the YouTube link, but look up “Bangladesh” “Motorbike” “Crazy” and “Djinn” to find the video.)
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A HEALTH GROUP in the United States last week criticized a restaurant called The Cheesecake Factory for serving 3,000-calorie meals.
This is like going to a sauna and complaining that it's hot. Of course it's hot. It's a sauna.
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HEADING BACK TO Hong Kong in a couple of hours—apologies for people whose emails have not been answered, etc, you know what it’s like trying to communicate with the outside world from mainland China….
